Athletes face setbacks in motorcycle and rally racing accidents

Spanish motorcyclist Carlos Tatay is preparing for a competitive comeback following a severe spinal cord injury. The accident occurred on July 2, 2023, at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, where Tatay lost control of his motorcycle while traveling at speeds exceeding 300 km/h. Tatay, a former Red Bull Rookies Cup champion, has released a book titled ‘Mi motor interior’ to document his rehabilitation and psychological journey. He expressed a goal to compete in the 2028 Dakar Rally in a car.

In Peru, driver Samuel Dyer Copello reported on his vehicle's damage after an accident during his debut in the Caminos del Inca 2026 Rally. The crash occurred on the Ayacucho-Matará road when a mechanical failure in the vehicle's axle caused the car to slide into a ditch. While the vehicle sustained significant damage to its exterior and interior, Copello confirmed that he and his team were uninjured.